Georgia towns declare emergency after floods
Over 30 water rescues were conducted in McCaysville as the Toccoa River overflowed, forcing school closures in Fannin and Gilmer counties.
By Rafael Delgado ·
McCaysville, a community on the Georgia-Tennessee border, declared a state of emergency after the Toccoa River rose sharply overnight. The surge left parts of the downtown area submerged under six to seven feet of water, according to police chief Michael Earley. He described the event as the most severe flooding he has witnessed in his career.
Emergency crews performed more than 30 rescues using boats to pull residents from the rising water. Earley stated that the municipality is currently soliciting assistance from anyone willing to volunteer for the response efforts. The National Weather Service issued a sudden flood emergency for McCaysville that remained in effect until 9:00 a.m. local time.
Adjacent towns including Chatsworth, Ellijay, and Blue Ridge faced sudden flood warnings that expired at 7:00 a.m. The Fannin County Emergency Management Agency urged residents to avoid driving on local roads due to hazardous conditions. Officials noted that many residents still require evacuation, particularly those in areas currently inaccessible to rescue teams because of deep water and dangerous terrain.
School authorities in Fannin and Gilmer counties suspended all instructional activities for the day. Both in-person classes and remote learning sessions were canceled due to widespread storm damage. The decision affected the entire district as infrastructure assessments continue.
The flooding resulted from heavy rainfall that accumulated during the night. The Toccoa River's rapid rise overwhelmed local drainage systems in McCaysville. Emergency services remain deployed in the area to manage ongoing evacuations and monitor water levels.
